Abigailisms

At 17 months, Abigail is getting into everything and becoming more of a character every day. Recently, she had been cracking me up. Here are a few examples:

• This morning, I was getting Abigail ready to go to MOPS. As I was holding her and pulling a cute little sweater out of the closet for her to wear, she looked at me and said, "No, no, Mommy." Then she pulled a little denim dress out of the closet and said, "Please." Of course I gave in an let her wear the dress. Watch out world...my 17 month old wants to dress herself. I'm in trouble!
  


• Lately, Abigail has really been into putting things on her head. If she finds a washcloth, the first thing does is put it on her head and parade around the house like she is wearing the most beautiful hat. Not only is she putting washcloths on her head, she's been digging through my dirty laundry pile and putting clothes over her head so they cover her eyes. Then she is toddling around the room at full speed until she trips over or bumps into something and falls down. She will squeal with delight and just do it over and over. I definitely think I have a thrill seeker on my hands.



• The last couple of nights, Abigail has had a cough. I've been letting her sleep with me, so I can keep an eye on her. Twice I've caught her talking in her sleep. Guess was she says....She says, "please" over and over again.



• Last week I found the TV remote on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. I know I didn't put it there.



• Her new phrase is "Okie dokie."



• I had a meeting at a coffee shop last week. Abigail was getting bored, so I let her play with her diaper bag. She pulled out her diaper ointment called "Butt Paste" and gave it to guy that I've never met before a the next table.

Ah...my little love keeps me on my toes and with a smile on my face.

My Favorite Valentines' Day

Jason was one of the sweetest, most thoughtful and creative guys in the world. He always came up with fun creative ways to surprise and pamper me. This morning, I was thinking about my favorite Valentines' Day.

The year we were dating, Jason invited me to his apartment after work. I really had no idea what to expect because when Jason had asked me what I wanted to do for Valentines' Day, I'd told him that I wanted to go see Fiddler on the Roof at the local playhouse. He said he thought that would be fun, but he didn't have a lot of money because he had recently had some major car repairs (aka...he was saving for an engagement ring).

When I arrived at his apartment I discovered a vase with a rose surrounded by candles on the front porch. Next to the vase sat a card. Inside the card was a poem that Jason had written for me about how hearts change when a boy meets a girl. At the end of the poem there was a note telling to me knock once and then enter.

When I open the door, I discovered Jason sitting on top of the kitchen cabinets and the wall between the living room and the kitchen. Wearing overalls and a crazy hat with a wig, he was trying to play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star on our friend's kid's violin. It was absolutely ridiculous! He told me he was my "Fiddler on the Cabinets!"

After I finished laughing at him, he climbed down and we watched the Fiddler on the Roof movie he'd rented. Very creative and fun! Way more memorable than going to the real show.

Abigail Says Hi!

New Contact Info

One of the hardest parts about moving is changing all my contact info. I don't want friends and family to lose track of me, especially since I ended up changing the cell phone number I had for 7 years. I just wanted to let everyone who reads this blog know that my phone numbers and address have changed. I would be happy to give you my new info, but I don't feel comfortable just posting it here. If you would like my new info, just shoot me an email. I'm also working on an update letter with pictures and the scoop on my new job, so let me know if you would like to be added to my prayer and newsletter list.

25 Random Things About Me

I typed up this list for facebook, but I thought I would put it on here too for those of you who have not succumbed to the time wasting world of facebook.

1. I got a driver’s license, license plates, bank accounts, a new chiropractor, a new phone number and internet service today.
2. I like to think I’m a world traveler, but I hate to live out of boxes and suitcases. If I’m going to stay somewhere more than a few nights, I like to put my stuff in a closet or dresser.
3. I’m a sucker for cheesy Christmas movies. I try to watch one at least once a month, and during the month of December, they are pretty much all I watch.
4. Since I’m in the process of moving and painting, my whole house is a mess. There are not a lot of places for Abigail to play, so the other day I let her play in my bedroom. She managed to find my feminine products and throw them all over the room.
5. I love, love, love a candle-light bubble bath and a good book.
6. My dog has been sprayed by skunks at least four times in the last several months…including today.
7. I bought a Jeep in Nov, and I have already put 9,000 miles on it.
8. I love maps and directions. If I have been somewhere once, I can almost always find my way back.
9. I’m slightly jealous of my stay-at-mom friends.
10. I’m an extroverted introvert, and I hate having to make small talk.
11. I have cried more in the last year than the rest of my life combined (minus the baby years).
12. I never wear red, but I love painting at least one room in my house red.
13. One of my favorite things is listening to rain on a tin roof.
14. It takes me a long time to let my guard down and truly let people know I’m struggling. Perhaps that is why I find it easier to tell people personal things via my blog than in person.
15. I hate to be weak, needy or inconvenience anyone.
16. I got my first snowboard by winning a boxing match.
17. I think I’m addicted to coffee.
18. I hate cheesy Christian movies, lingo, signs, t-shirts and bumper stickers.
19. I didn’t really think I was a baby person, but I loved the entire process (minus the morning sickness) and I wish I could have more.
20. My favorite part of my day is walking in the door and hearing Abigail squeal and come toddling over to me.
21. I miss my sister Dawn more than I ever let on.
22. When I am really stressed out, I tend to procrastinate.
23. Lately I have been learning about hope…It is difficult concept to wrap my mind around. (Now these three things remain…Faith, Hope, and Love) After the hurt and disappointments of the last year, how do I live in a state of hope???
24. I am one of the world’s biggest klutzes. It is rare that I go and entire day, without spilling something on myself.
25. I wish I had a time machine.

Endings and Beginnings

Today was my last day working for CP. It wasn't as difficult as I imagined it would be. On some level it seems like a normal day. The reality that I'm not working at CP full time, hasn't sunk in yet. I don't think the reality will set in for a while.

At the moment, I am excited about my next adventure and my mind is processing all of the details of the moving process. (How am I going to have all of my possessions packed in boxes and ready for the moving truck by Sat morning?) I haven't given myself much time to really process what is happening. I think I am kind of stuffing my heart and emotions, so that I can function.

Jenna has been a God-send to me. She has been living with me since Sept and taking care of Abigail. I know it must have been difficult for her, as I am still internally struggling, and I am not too much fun at home. After Abigail goes to bed, I pretty much retreat to my room or sit in front of a movie. Despite my lack of communication and hospitality, she has been a real gem. She often cooks, cleans, and does my laundry without being asked on top of caring for Abigail. In fact, while I was in Colorado interviewing, she packed up most of my house. Truthfully, I only packed one room and she did almost everything else. What an amazing and thoughtful young woman! I don't know how I would have survived these last several months without her. I'm definitely going to miss her when I move to CO.

While I am still excited about the move, the reality of leaving this house is beginning to set in. As rooms begin to feel empty, memories surface. Tonight I was just remembering the day Jason and I spent in the 18 inch crawl space under the house jacking up portions of the foundation and mixing and pouring concrete. Boy that was a doosie of a day. If I haven't told you the story, you should ask me sometime. I'll give you a hint...the day ended by Jason telling me that I looked like I just got vomited out of the belly of a whale.

I remember the time he screamed at me because I almost got his finger with a nail gun. The day we managed to heft a 500 pound wood and steal beam into the ceiling of the kitchen was also quite memorable. Just thinking about hanging siding on a 20 degree night using out headlamps to see what we were doing still makes me shiver. I also think of the time when Jason was throwing junk out of a hole in second story of our house, and I was neatly stacking it in the dumpster so we could save space and spend less money on dump runs. I rejoice in the fact that the two months we didn't have running water and had to use a port-a-potty in the front yard are now a distant memory.

There are so many memories in this house that we gutted and almost entirely rebuilt. The stories are endless. It is going to be so hard to leave this place.

Not only do we have stories about remodeling, we have endless stories from our days working at CP. Stories that make me laugh and cry. I can't even begin to recount our adventures and the ways we've seen God work through this ministry. I know in the end I am going to miss CP far more than this house of wood and stone.

Keep me in your prayers this weekend as I close the CP and the house on Warpath Drive chapters of my life.

A New Year, New Job, New Home, New State

Sorry I haven't written a post in a while. I've been hesitant to blog until everything is official. So now that it is official....This week, I accepted a job at Cross Bar X Youth Ranch in Durango, CO. I will be their Office Administrator, and I couldn't be more excited!

God has really worked out the timing of the whole move, so I will be moving directly from my house in TN to my new house at the camp in Durango. However, the time table is a bit crazy. I just got home from my interview yesterday (Wed) and my moving truck is coming on Saturday (two days from now). Today (Thurs) is my last day working at CP, and I am planning to leave for CO on Sunday afternoon or Monday. As you can imagine, thing are a bit crazy busy around here.

I'm excited to tell you about the new ministry that I will be joining, but due to all the details surrounding packing and moving, I don't have the time at the moment. As soon as I get settled, I'll try to write a more detailed update.

In the meantime, here are a few pictures.

Colorado Girls

Fun in the snow

Our new home

The view from my bedroom window